Rat retinal microglial cells under normal conditions, after optic nerve section, and after optic nerve section and intravitreal injection of trophic factors or macrophage inhibitory factor.

Retinal microglial cells may have a role in both degeneration and neuroprotection of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) after optic nerve (ON) section. We have used NDPase enzymohistochemistry to label adult rat retinal microglial cells and have studied these cells under normal conditions, after left ON section, and after left ON section and eye puncture or intravitreal injection of different substances: vehicle, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin 3 (NT3), or macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF). Resident microglial cells are present in four layers in the adult rat retina: the nerve fiber layer (NFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), and outer plexiform layer (OPL). Left ON section induces microglial activation in the ipsilateral and contralateral retina as manifested by stronger staining intensity in both retinas and increased microglial cell densities in the NFL, IPL, and GCL of the ipsilateral retina. Left ON section followed by left eye puncture or intravitreal injection increases microglial cell density in both retinas and induces changes in the microglial cells of the ipsilateral retina that vary depending on the substance injected: BDNF injections delay microglial activation, possibly through retinal ganglion cell neuroprotection, whereas NT3 partially inhibits microglial activation in the NFL; MIF injections have no clear effects on microglial activation. In conclusion, retinal microglial cells become activated after an ON section and react more intensely when the eye is also punctured or injected, and this response may be altered by using neurotrophic factors, although the effects of MIF are less clear.